Image Is Everything (Image)
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Image is truly everything!
Webster dictionary
Image: a visual representation of something
In Romans 8 Paul is teaching us about our life in Christ.
No condemnation (No longer guilty)
We according to the Spirit and not of the Flesh
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Paul is teaching pneumatology - noo·muh·taa·luh·jee (The work of the Holy Spirit)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
The Spirit makes intercession for us! (According to the will of God)
Romans 8 is a powerful chapter but also it contains our foundational scripture for why we are Image Church!
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good”
Those who love God…
Love: to have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards.
John 14:15 (ESV)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Loving Him / Means I follow Him…
Things work together for my good because I follow His plan for my life.
The “those’ who love Him are the “those” who are Called!
Called: summoned adj. — denoting someone whose participation or presence has been officially requested (for something); especially a request to which refusal is not an option.
purpose (intention) n. — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides planned actions.
I’m called to love God’s purpose for my life!
What is His purpose for my life?
This is our foundational scripture for Image Church
It reveals our purpose…
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
“For those whom he foreknew”
Foreknew: (personally) v. — to befriend or be acquainted with someone in a familiar way ahead of time or before meeting; implying an exclusivity (Ex-clu-sivity) of choice relative to those not befriended.
Dictionary of Bible Themes 1412 foreknowledge
Foreknowledge is an aspect of God’s knowledge of everything
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah states that “The word of the Lord came to me saying.”
This is important because God did not have to speak…
God speaking was actually God calling Him
Jeremiah 1:5 isn’t about us!
It’s speaking of God’s foreknowledge of how and when He knew each of us would come into existence.
Key word “I”
This foreknowledge means God loved us before we ever came into existence. So, before God ever formed you in the womb, HE LOVED YOU.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
Predestined: to predetermine v. — to determine something ahead of time or before its occurrence.
God Predetermine without my input…
Without my opinion....
Why because he is in love with me…
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
“to be conformed”
Conformed: like-natured adjs. — similar in representative essence or nature to something else.
“To the Image”
Image: likeness n. — similarity in appearance, character, or nature between persons or things.
“Of His Son”
Christ!
Two areas that I want to deal with!
Mortal & Immortality
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
Mortal - Subject to death
Immortality n. — the quality or state of never dying.
God’s purpose for our life is to be conformed into the image of Christ…
First in a mortal way…
Jesus came to teach us how to live and represent the father in this earthly body…
He taught us how to:
Love
Forgive
Give
Disciple
Pray
Our Faith
Money
Sacrificial living
What does it mean to be “Well Built”
How to serve
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Firstborn of all creation - (Preeminence) Highly exalted!
New Flash! We are the visible manifestation of the Invisible God… .
God created man to reflect Him (Mirror)
Because God lives in us....
My conduct / Should image how Christ Conducted himself!
Jesus said, I come to do the will of the Father!
Doing His will was God visible manifestation of His agenda
I come to fulfill the Law… The law of my Father!
Fulfilling the law was God visibly revealing His characteristics!
He did it in a mortal body, just like us!
When I operate in the Law of Christ - I am being the visible manifestation of God
When I am doing the will of the father - I am being the visible manifestation of God
When I am not..... I am still being an Image!
#1 I am being conformed to Image of Christ - Right now in this mortal body.....
“In order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
#2 I am being conformed to be the Image of Christ in my immortality…
God’s purpose for my life is to be “among many brothers.”
Brothers: Sibling believers n. — believers understood as one’s own siblings in God’s family.
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Steadfast: steady adj. — not subject to change or variation; especially in behavior.
Immoveable adj. — not able or intended to be moved.
Abounding: to abound v. — to be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities.
Being conformed to the Image
#1 In the mortal & Immortality